Rapp Takes First '11 Win In BigM AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200

Drag Specialties' Michael Barnes launched into the lead of Monday's
AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 event at Miller Motorsports Park's
BigM Weekend, only to be forced back to third a lap later by a
hard-charging Steve Rapp (Parts Unlimited) and Chris Fillmore
(Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Racing), Fillmore pressuring Rapp
unmercifully as the field blasted through the start of the
eight-lap contest.
Rapp took over the lead with just four laps to go, followed within
a second by Fillmore, Barnes, and the reigning class champion, RMR
Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Racing's Danny Eslick. Eslick, however,
had other plans for the running order, quickly getting up the
inside of Fillmore and setting his sights on Rapp. A string of
riders following behind the lead trio, Fillmore made a close inside
pass on Eslick to retake second position. And though Fillmore
rebuffed Eslick's first attack, which came almost immediately, he
was forced to cede the position several turns later.
With three laps left to go, the dicing between Fillmore and Eslick
had allowed Rapp to put a half-second between himself and the other
podium contenders---- a comfortable difference if the two Bruce
Rossmeyer teammates stayed focused on each other. As Rapp kept his
head down and continued to drag footpegs through MMP's flowing
turns, he posted the quickest lap the race had seen yet.
Elbows out, Eslick and Fillmore took the white flag almost
side-by-side, having left Barnes several seconds behind but
simultaneously lost touch with Rapp, the latter rider now
unstoppable more than a second ahead. The pair swapped position
heading for the back section of the Utah track, Fillmore making a
final bid for the second step but ultimately unable to fend off
Eslick, who blasted by and made it stick as the pair tore onto the
front straight for the final time.
Third-place Fillmore was followed across the line by Barnes,
Michael Beck (J&P Cycles), Tyler O'Hara (GP Bike Parts), Chase
McFarland (Latus Motors Racing), Kyle Wyman (Bruce Rossmeyer's
Daytona Racing), Joe Kopp (Latus Motors Racing), and Michael
Corbino (RMR Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Racing).
Tune in to SPEED TV tonight at 9 p.m. PST for highlights from
today's XR1200 contest. As the series heads for next weekend's
Round 4 at Elkhart Lake's Road America, June 3-5, Fillmore leads
the overall AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Championship by six points
over Rapp, 78 to 71. Wyman sits third with 51 points.
For detailed results, visit http://results.amaproracing.com/. To
learn more and be a part of AMA Pro Racing, please visit
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